Donald Trump continued his action-packed weekend in sports on Sunday, raising his fists as spectators at the Presidents Cup broke into chants of “USA!” in Illinois.
After watching Texas narrowly defeat Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, the president arrived at Medinah Country Club, just outside Chicago, for the final day of the golf tournament.
Serving as the Presidents Cup’s honorary chairman for the second time, Trump received a thunderous welcome from the packed grandstands as he made his entrance.
Wearing a dark suit and red tie, Trump smiled, pumped his fists and blew kisses toward the crowd while spectators responded with deafening chants of “USA! USA!”
Before the Sunday singles matches began, Trump addressed the crowd and joked about reports that he had asked the PGA Tour for 15 minutes to deliver a speech.
“You know, the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception. We got a good reception!” Trump told the cheering spectators.
Donald Trump continued his action-packed sports weekend at the Presidents Cup on Sunday
The president arrived at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago for the final day of the tournament
“He [PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp] said, could you make a short speech? I said, no, I don’t have the courage to make a speech — these people want to see golf, they don’t want to hear speeches!”
“I’ll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before.”
Trump’s visit prompted heightened security throughout Medinah. Gates opened at 8 a.m., while the Secret Service enforced strict access restrictions.
His joke followed a Golfweek report published Saturday claiming that Trump had asked organizers for 15 minutes to speak to the crowd before play began.
Trump soon stepped aside as the golf got underway, with Brandt Snedeker’s U.S. team attempting to overcome a 10.5-7.5 deficit against Geoff Ogilvy’s International side.
The president was scheduled to watch the Sunday singles before heading back to the White House later that evening. He was also expected to participate in the closing trophy presentation.
The Presidents Cup appearance came less than 24 hours after Trump attended another major sporting event.
On Saturday, Trump received a huge ovation at Neyland Stadium when he appeared on the jumbotron with Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn during the Longhorns’ 20-17 win.
Wearing the same dark suit and red tie, the president responded to the loud reception from inside a luxury suite by smiling and repeatedly pumping his fist.
Taking to the microphone ahead of the Sunday singles matches, Trump poked fun at reports that he had requested a 15-minute speech window from the PGA Tour
Trump smiled, pumped his fists, and blew kisses to the raucous crowd on Sunday
His trip comes fresh off watching Texas edge Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday
He was seated alongside prominent political ally and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was sporting bright Volunteer orange for the occasion.
His arrival capped off an electric pre-game buildup that began in the skies over Knoxville, when Air Force One treated fans to a flyover above Neyland Stadium.
During his trip, Trump bore witness to Texas star Colin Simmons pulling off a bizarre ‘peeing’ celebration during their SEC battle against Tennessee.
Simmons broke into the backfield to sack Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon on third down, which should have forced a fourth-and-29.
Instead, the junior star stood over Brandon and pretended to urinate on the field, immediately drawing a yellow flag from the officiating crew for his antics.
The referee then took to the stadium microphone to announce an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ‘simulating using the restroom’, thus wiping out the stop.
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